Purses and their method of fabrication



E. L. ERICKSON PURSES AND THEIR METHOD OF FABRICATION June 1, 1965 5 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 23, 1965 INVENTOR. Ea M Z. flab/504 INVENTOR.

June 1, 1965 ERICKSON PURSES AND THEIR METHOD OF FABRICATION Filed Aug. 2a. 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [062a Z. Eric/80m BY%V/M June 1, 1965 .1.. ERICKSON PURSES AND THEIR METHOD OF FABRICATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 23, 1963 INVENTOR. [aha Z. fl'M/isa/a United States Patent 3,186,461 PURSES AND THE METHOD OF FABRICATION Edna L. Erickson, 15 W. 320 George St., Bensonville, Ill. Filed Aug. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 304,136 Claims. (1. 150-28) The invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of purses and like products and is particularly concerned with the method of and means for the fabrication of articles from fabric material coated on one surface with a plastic layer and in a manner to avoid stitch- More particularly, the invention is concerned with the manner and means for producing novel seams at the joining of component parts especially when the material of the parts is comprised of fabric material coated on one surface with a plastic film. Such coated material is difficult if not impossible of being adhesively bonded plastic face to plastic face, consequently difficulty ha been encountered when seeking to fabricate articles entirely from such material. Applicant has in some instances overcome this objectionable characteristic by the use of perforations in the material at selected areas so as to enable an adhesive bonding agent to penetrate through the plastic coated surface onto the fabric side of the material and bond firmly therewith.

The feature of perforating the material in the areas of bonding is utilized primarily in forming corner seams of the inside or lining walls of the purse which seams are characterized by having mutually spaced opposed end tongue extensions that intermesh and overlie the wall area of the piece to be connected thereto so as to provide an integrated tear resisting corner seam devoid of multiple layers of material or prominent ridges, ribs or stitched seams.

Purses and the like very frequently are stolen by the simple expedient of shipping the hand strap thereof. Applicant has reduced the danger of theft by shipping, by providing reinforcing means in the hand strap which is incapable of being sheared surreptitiously.

Applicant has further provided a novelly constructed hand strap which comprises a single strip of material folded in such manner as to provide a multitude of layers some of which are perforated to allow a bonding adhesive to be used for joining the layers one to the other.

The mounting of pockets fabricated from plastic coated fabric without stitching has also presented a problem which applicant has overcome by the novel use of bond strips which are extended through slits performed in both layers to be joined and are adhesively bonded to the fabric side thereof.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novel construction for a purse and like product.

Another object is to provide a novelly constructed handle strap for a purse and like product.

Another object is to provide novel means for connectmg a hanger strap to the body of a purse and like product.

Another object is to provide novel method of and means for securing two sections of plastic coated fabric material face to face.

Another object is to provide a novel corner seam structure.

The structure and method by means of which the above noted and other objects and advantages of the invention are attained will be described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which: 7

PEG. 1 is a perspective view of a purse embodying the features of the invention.

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FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank for forming the purse outer covering, flap and liner.

FIG. 3 is a view of the hand strap, showing it partially disassembled.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the strap, taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the strap, taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of the chain that is embedded in the strap.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one end of the purse, taken substantially on line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a detail perspective view of the strap and mounting.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the corner portion of one of the outside walls.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one end of the purse lining.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a lining end wall.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged detail sectional View of the lining corner seam, taken substantially on line 12--12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a detail vertical sectional view of the front walls of the purse, taken on line 1313 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a view of the back side of the liner front wall carrying a pocket assembly, as viewed along line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the pocket and liner wall joint, taken on line 1515 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a detail sectional view of one end of the pocket assembly.

FIG. 17 is a detail sectional view showing the hasp mounting in the front wall, taken substantially on line 17-17 of FIG. 1.

The material used in fabricating the exemplary purse illustrated in the accompanying drawings is of the nature of a fabric or other tightly woven cloth having a coating on one surface only of a suitable plastic material such as vinyl. More specifically, such material has the fabric exposed on one surface and a smooth non-porous plastic constituting the other surface thereof. The purse disclosed is assembled without stitching being employed. In its stead applicant has devised novel means to permit adhesive bonding of the material even in instances when the plastic coated surfaces are face to face. In order to accomplish this there are provided several distinct forms of material joinings, one involving perforation of the material, and another involving interlaced tongue extensions, while still another embodies the use of bond strips. Before entering into a discussion of the manner and means of making seams and other joinings, the following general discussion of the overall structure and specifically the material blank will be discussed.

Referring to the blank 11 illustrated in FIG. 2, said blank is cut from a plastic coated fabric sheet (shown fabric side up) and generally it includes various panels and marginal flaps divided by fold lines. No effort is being made to show the consecutive step by step progression of folds accomplished to transform the blank 11, and other blanks to be referred to hereinafter, into a finished article. It is believed sufiicient to note that the blank shown includes a front panel 12, a bottom panel 13 and a back panel 14. These constitute outside panels of the purse body. Integral with the back panel 14 is a double cover panel 15-16 having liner panel sections intergal with it. These liner panels include the back liner panel 17, a bottom liner panel 18 and a front liner panel 19. The outside and cover panels have foldable edge margins 21 that are folded over along fold lines 22 to overlie the adjacent fabric surface of the panels to which they are secured adhesively. Although any suitable adhesivemay be employed, it is preferred to use an adhesive that bonds on contact and which remains flexible after setting. One such adhesive is commercially available under the trade name New-Sew.

A pair of outside end panels 23 (one shown in FIG. 9) are provided, each having formed on three of its edges, a flange 24 that is adhesively secured to the related marginal areas of the outside fron-t, bottom and back panels 12, 13 and 14 respectively, just inwardly of the foldable edge margins 21, all as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 7.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 1-3, the upper free edge margin 25 of the front wall 12 is folded over inward-' ly and is adhesively bonded to the underlying fabric surface of wall 12. Prior to such folding, the marginal edge 25 is suitably provided with spaced perforations 26 for a purpose to be described presently. The outside end panels 23 also have their upper marginal edges 27 folded over inwardly, as shown in FIG. 7, and are adhesively secured to the fabric surface of said wall so as to present a finished top edge to the purse.

After the outside walls of the purse have been assembled as described above, the flap panel 16 is folded over along fold line 28 to lie flat against flap panel 15' and the fabric surfaces of the two are adhesively secured together. Prior to this folding and securing, a pair of strap holes 29 are cut in each panel 15, 16, and the marginal edge 3%) of each hole is rolled over and adhesively bonded to the fabric surface of the material. Thus, when the panels 15, 16 are joined as aforesaid, the holes 29 in one panel register with the holes 29 in the other panel to define reinforced finished edge openings through which a strap 31, described hereinafter, is extended.

The purse liner may now be assembled. As noted hereinabove this liner is comprised of the panels 17, 18 and 19 (FIG. 2) which are joined with liner end panels 32 (FIG. 11) in a manner now to be described.

The panels 17, 18 and 19 each have their end edges formed with a series of tongues or'extensions 33 having a narrow flap 34 therebetween. Each of these tongue extensions is perforated, as at 35. The liner end panel 32 has similar perforated tongue extensions 36 and flaps .37 (FIG. 11) on its side and bottom edges. Prior to assembly the narrow flaps 34 and 37 are rolled over the fabric surface of the material and are secured thereto by adhesive to present a finished edge in the spaces between tongues 33 and 36.

The end panel 32 then is positioned in register with the related end of the partially formed front, back and bottom liner walls or panels (as shown in FIG. i)

'and in such manner that the tongue extensions 33' on said last named panels register with the respective spaces between tongue extensions as on the end panel, and the tongue extensions 36 on the end panel register with the respective spaces between the tongues 33: on the front, bottom and back liner panels. The tongues 33 and 36 then are folded over against the outside surface of the associated panel and an'adhesive is applied there over. This adhesive enters through the aperture in each tongue extension filling same and thus bonding firmly to the underlying fabric surface. Additional strength is afforded the joining by adhesively securing one or more strips 38 of fabric, preferably cut on a bias, on each'tongue extension, as best illustrated in FIG. l0. The same procedure is followed in securing the other line end wall 3.; in place. The resulting liner assembly may now be pushed down into the outside purse structure for lining the same. However, before doing this the hand strap 31 and a latch 39 (FIG. 17) are mounted and the lining is fitted with one or more pocket assemblies 41 which also are fabricated from i the same type of plastic coated fabric as the purse body and lining.

One such pocket assembly 41 is best illustrated in FIGS. 13, 14 wherein it will be seen that the pocket assembly is fabricated by folding a single piece of such material with the plastic surface outwardly so as to provide a mounting wall 42, a rear pocket wall 4-3, a front pocket wall 44 and a facing 4-5. The facing has its bottom margin 4% folded upwardly inwardly and secured adhesively to the fabric surface of the material as shown. The mounting wall 42 and the underlying area of the liner wall are coincidentally slit as at 47 (FIG. 15) and two strips :8 of linen or the like are threaded into the slits and their edges are folded over in opposits directions to overlie the outside fabric faces of the pocket mounting wall 42 and the liner wall 19 and are adhesively secured thereto all as shown in FZGS. 13- 15. The ends of the pocket facing and front pocket wall 44 are tucked beneath the back wall 43 and adhesively secured as shown in FIG. 16.

The hasp or latch 39 may be of any suitable type but it is preferred to use one having a base 43 from which a stem 51 extends and which stem is projected through a hole in the outside front wall 12. Ereferably the base has a pair of openings therein through which a strip of fabric 52 may be extended and which strip is adhesively bonded to the fabric face of the outside front wall. This form of mounting avoids the need for machine applying the latch and further makes it less difficult to replace should such replacement become necessary or desirable.

As noted hereinabove, the hand strap 31 is partially secured in place before the liner assembly is positioned and secured. Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 6, the strap is comprised of a strip of plastic coated fabric material like that of the purse body and lining. The strap blank is relatively wide in its medial portion 53 and is formed on both longitudinal edges with a series of mutually spaced holes 54. ts end portions 55 are of lesser width and are of a length responding to the highth of the purse end walls 23. Its extreme end or terminal portions 56 are of still lesser width.

Prior to folding and forming the strip into a strap, a pair of chains 57 are laid along the margins thereof. These chains are of greater length than the length of the strip so as to extend beyond each end, as at 57a. An adhesive is applied to the fabric surface of the strip (face up in FIG. 3) and the margins 55a of end portions 55 are rolled over the chains and adhesively secured, as best shown in FIG. 4. The margin 58 of the intermediate portion then is folded over the related chain 57. The other margin Ed is folded over upon itself, as at 5%, and then it is folded inwardly as shown to overlie the margin 58. This folding is carefully attended to so as to insure that the perforations 54 in the margins register one with the other. When this is accomplished, a tool, such as the end of a pencil, is used to press the folded margin 59 down into the holes (FIG. 5) so as to carry its fabric face into bonding contact with the fabric face of the underlying main body of the strip. The result is tight bonding of the folded assembly and the creation of ornamental detents 61 on the surface of the finished strap. Preferably, the chains are Wrapped with twine or the like, as at 62 (FIG. 6) to negative any chemical reaction between the metal of the chains and the adhesive used.

The strap may now be inserted into' the assemblyby initially extending its ends through the strap holes 29 in the flap 15-16. The free terminal ends are secured in like fashion to the body and liner consequently only one end attachment will be described. Specifically, a pair of holes 63 (FIG. 8) is provided in the outside [bottom wall 13 of the purse closely adjacent to end Wall 23 and the two 3 the other of said holes and tied, as at 64, securely inside the purse. A stiffener sheet 65 (FIG. 7) of any light weight material then is placed in the bottom of the purse and the liner is then press fitted into place. During this operation the liner walls are coated with adhesive and the liner end walls 32 are pressed firmly against the fabric face of the strap intermediate portions 55 to adhesively bond them to the liner end walls. The terminal flap 56 of the strap is simil-arily bonded adhesively to the bottom face of the liner bottom wall.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details of the structure disclosed may be modified or changed and the steps of the method may the varied, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction, method and means described.

I claim:

1. An article of the character described comprising a blank of fabric material faced on one surface with a plastic coating, said blank being folda-ble to provide outside front, back and bottom walls, separate blanks secured to said walls to provide end walls, an integral liner formed by folding said blank to define front, back and bottom liner walls, separate blanks forming end walls of said liner, said liner front, back and bottom walls and end walls having their fabric surfaces disposed outwardly, and each being formed on related edges with tongue extensions that overlie the related wall and are secured thereto by an adhesive.

2. The article recited in claim 1, in which the tongue extensions are perforated to allow the adhesive to penetrate to the fabric faces of the attached Walls.

3. The article recited in'claim 1, in which reinforcing strips overlie and are bonded to each tongue extension and to the related area of the wall to which said tongue extension is secured.

4. In a purse or like product, a liner comprising front, back, bottom and end panels, said front, back and bottom panels being integral one with the other, a plurality of tongue extensions formed on the end edges of said front, back and bottom panels and defining spaces between said tongue extensions, a plurality of tongue extensions formed on three edges of the end panels and defining spaces between the tongue extensions, the tongue extensions on the front, back and bottom panels registering with the spaces on the end panels and the tongue extensions on the end panels registering with the spaces on the front, back and bottom panels, said tongue extensions being foldable to overlie the outside surface of the related panels, and an adhesive bonding said tongue extensions to said underlying panels.

5. In the purse recited in claim 4, in which strips of fabric overlie the tongue extensions and adjacent areas of the underlying panels and are adhesively bonded thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 383,175 5/88 Gardner 229-48 896,600 8/08 Thornton 22948 1,587,982 6/26 Nover 15033 1,600,970 9/26 Bosca 150-33 1,760,681 5/30 Barol 15028 2,072,371 3/ 37 Kaplan. 2,185,469 1/40 MacDonald. 2,395,077 2/46 Southwick. 2,710,036 6/55 Marks 15028 2,716,625 8/55 Scholl 156-264 2,75 8,780 8/56 Imbs 22937 2,798,524 7/57 Ryon 15028 2,890,481 6/59 Leahy 156-291 2,973,801 3/61 Ballard 156264 3,029,996 4/62 Drummond 22948 3,106,751 10/63 Fish 16136 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ARTICLE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A BLANK OF FABRIC MATERIAL FACED ON ONE SURFACE WITH A PLASTIC COATING, SAID BLANK BEING FOLDABLE TO PROVIDE OUTSIDE FRONT, BACK AND BOTTOM WALLS, SEPARATE BLANKS SECURED TO SAID WALLS TO PROVIDE END WALLS, AN INTEGRAL LINER FORMED BY FOLDING SAID BLANK TO DEFINE FRONT, BACK AND BOTTOM LINER WALLS, SEPARATE BLANKS FORMING END WALLS OF SAID LINER, SAID LINER FRONT, BACK AND BOTTOM WALLS AND END WALLS HAVING THEIR FABRIC SURFACES DISPOSED OUTWARDLY, AND EACH BEING FORMED ON RELATED EDGES WITH TONGUE EXENSIONS THAT OVERLIE THE RELATED WALL AND ARE SECURED THERETO BY AN ADHESIVE. 